Methods and apparatus for communicating with a receiving unit

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, techniques are provided for extending the functionality of a receiving unit which is configured to express a state during an event. In some embodiments, a receiving unit configured to receive a first set of transmissions during an event from one or more transmitting units and express a state in response may also be configured to receive a second set of transmissions from other components at a time other than during the event and express a state in response to receiving the second set of transmissions.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/376,113, filed Dec. 12, 2016, entitled “Methods And Apparatus ForCommunicating With a Receiving Unit,” which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CA2016/050684, filed Jun. 14, 2016,entitled “Methods And Apparatus For Communicating With A ReceivingUnit,” which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/201,351, filed Aug. 5, 2016, entitled “MethodsAnd Apparatus For Communicating With A Receiving Unit.” The entirety ofeach of the documents listed above is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,740,391 (hereinafter “the '391patent,” which is incorporated herein by reference) discloses a systemfor providing a distributed manifestation within an environment. Thesystem may include one or more transmitting units (referred to by the'391 patent as “projectors”) which may transmit to a number of receivingunits distributed throughout the environment. The receiving units maymanifest a state change in response to receiving a transmission tocreate, for example, visual effects (e.g., changes in color, video, thepresence or absence of light or an image, etc.) and/or effects whichinvolve sound, shape, odor and/or other sensory stimuli. State changemanifestations may be for a fixed period of time, or dynamic (e.g.,receiving units may change state in real time, or be perceived to doso). In some embodiments disclosed by the '391 patent, a receiving unitmay comprise a wearable device, which is a device or collection ofcomponents that may be worn, carried or otherwise transported by a user,such as an attendee at an event.

In some embodiments disclosed by the '391 patent, a transmitting unitgenerates electromagnetic signals having wavelengths in the infrared,visible and/or ultraviolet spectra. An electromagnetic signal may beencoded to convey information to a receiving unit that receives thetransmission. The information may include state information whichcorresponds to location (e.g., spatial coordinate) data. A receivingunit located within the environment receives the electromagnetic signalfrom the transmitter and decodes the signal to discern state dataassociated with its location (e.g., spatial coordinates within theenvironment). The receiving unit then may express a state in accordancewith the state data as a result of being situated at its location at thetime the transmission was received and processed.

A representative receiving unit 32 is shown in FIG. 1. Receiving unit 32includes a receiver 34, a state changing component 54 which enables thereceiving unit to express a state, and a power source 64 for poweringthe receiver and the state changing component 54. Receiver 34 may, forexample, comprise a sensor for receiving a signal of a particularwavelength (e.g., an infrared sensor for receiving a signal having aninfrared wavelength), and/or one or more other components suitablyconfigured to allow the receiving unit to communicate with other modules(e.g., transmitting units). State changing component 54 may, forexample, include one or more light emitting diodes or other componentsfor manifesting a visual display.

SUMMARY

Conventionally, the functionality of a receiving unit which is used tocreate a manifestation within an environment during an event expiresonce the event concludes. For example, receiving units that are worn byattendees and are used to create visual displays at concerts or sportingevents conventionally do not create further visual effects once theevent is over. That is, although an event attendee may keep a wearabledevice or other type of receiving unit as a souvenir from the event, thereceiving unit does not actively interact with other components afterthe event concludes.

The Assignee has appreciated, however, that a receiving unit whichcontinues to provide functionality after an event concludes may providesignificant benefits for event attendees, organizers and attractions.For example, a receiving unit which is capable of expressing a state inresponse to stimuli after an event is over may extend and/or augment theattendee's experience at the event, thereby deepening his/her connectionwith acts, teams, proceedings, organizations or other attractions viewedor interacted with at the event, and provide theacts/teams/organizations/etc. and/or event organizers a valuable vehiclefor continued communication with event attendees after the event isover.

Accordingly, some embodiments of the invention provide techniques forextending the functionality of a receiving unit after an eventconcludes. In some embodiments, a receiving unit may comprise componentswhich enable it to receive transmissions not only from one or moretransmitting units during an event, but also other components (e.g., amobile device operated by the attendee, a server component, a networkingcomponent (e.g., a gateway, hub, router, etc.), other component(s), orsome combination thereof) after the event concludes. For example, areceiving unit may be suitably configured to receive emissions from atransmitting unit during an event (e.g., electromagnetic signalstransmitted directionally in the infrared, visible and/or ultravioletspectra, non-directionally transmitted signals, etc.), and to receivetransmissions via a direct connection (e.g., via one or more networks)from another component after the event concludes. In some embodiments,then, the functionality which is provided by a receiving unit during anevent may be extended after the event concludes, using devices which anattendee may already have in his/her possession, and/or commonlyavailable communication technologies, in ways which may significantlyaugment and enrich the attendee's engagement with the event and theacts, athletes or other attractions experienced at the event.

The foregoing is intended as a non-limiting summary of only certainaspects of the invention. Some embodiments of the invention aredescribed in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In thedrawings, each identical or nearly identical component illustrated inthe various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes ofclarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a representative receiver unit;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a representative arrangement inwhich a receiving unit may receive transmissions before, during and/orafter an event, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a representative process whereby areceiving unit may receive transmissions before, during and/or after anevent, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting a representative mode of interaction inwhich a receiving unit may receive transmissions from a servercomponent, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting a representative mode of interactionin which a receiving unit may receive transmissions from a mobiledevice, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting a representative mode of interactionin which a receiving unit may receive transmissions from a server via amobile device, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting a representative mode of interactionin which a receiving unit may receive transmissions from a server via anetworking component, in accordance with some embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting a receiving unit suitably configuredto express a state before, during and/or after an event concludes, inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an example computing system withwhich some aspects of the invention may be implemented.

DESCRIPTION

In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, techniques areprovided for extending the functionality of a receiving unit which isconfigured to express a state during an event. For example, in someembodiments, a receiving unit which is configured to receive a first setof transmissions during an event from one or more transmitting unitsand, for example, express a state in response may also be configured toreceive a second set of transmissions from other components after theevent concludes and, for example, express a state in response toreceiving the second set of transmissions. As an example, a receivingunit may be configured to receive transmissions (e.g., directionallytransmitted electromagnetic signals in the infrared, visible and/orultraviolet spectra, non-directionally transmitted signals, etc.) from atransmitting unit during an event, and to receive transmissions viadirect connection (e.g., via one or more networks) from one or morecomponents after the event concludes. Receipt of the emission(s) duringthe event and/or of the transmission(s) via direct connection after theevent concludes may, for example, cause the receiving unit to express astate (e.g., a state which is the same during the event and after theevent concludes, or different). As such, the functionality of areceiving unit which manifests a state during an event may be extended.This extension may significantly augment and enrich the attendee'sengagement with the event, its organizers, and/or and the acts, athletesor other attractions that the attendee experienced during the event.

It should be appreciated that the term “event” is used herein to referto any suitable period(s) of interaction between a host and an attendee.A host may comprise any suitable entity or organization. Thus, whilemany of the embodiments described herein relate to events which areconcerts, festivals, sporting events, etc., it should be appreciatedthat the invention is not limited to events at which large numbers ofattendees congregate, or to any particular type of interaction between ahost and attendee. For example, an event may comprise a commercialinteraction between a host commercial entity and attendee customer whovisits one of the host's retail locations, an exhibition organized by ahost museum for a relatively small number of attendee visitors,non-commercial interactions (e.g., charitable events organized by hostphilanthropic organizations, educational events organized by hosteducational institutions, etc.), and/or any other suitable occurrence atwhich a host entity interacts with one or more attendees.

FIG. 2 depicts a representative arrangement 100 which includes areceiving unit configured to receive and process transmissions before,during and/or after an event, in accordance with some embodiments of theinvention. In arrangement 100, receiving unit 203 receives transmissionsfrom transmitting unit 201 during an event, and from device(s) 202 attimes other than during the event. Receiving unit 203 may take any ofnumerous forms. For example, in some embodiments, receiving unit 203 maycomprise a stand-alone item that an attendee may wear, hold, carryand/or transport, such as a wristband, hat, necklace, badge, medal,eyeglasses, ball, etc. In other embodiments, receiving unit 203 maycomprise one or more modules which interact with other components, suchas an application which executes on a device operated by an attendee(e.g., a mobile device, such as a so-called “smartphone,” tabletcomputer, laptop computer, gaming console, music player, etc.) or othercomponent(s).

Receiving unit 203 may include components which enable it to express astate in response to receiving a transmission. In some embodiments, anexpression of state may be perceptible by an attendee, and may include(for example) a visual display, creation of sound, a change to thereceiving unit's appearance, a vibration or other tactile sensation,creation of an odor, and/or any other suitable perceptible expression ofstate. Of course, receiving unit 203 is not limited to expressing astate in a manner which is perceptible by an attendee. For example,receiving unit 203 may receive from transmitting unit 201 a signal whichcomprises data to be recorded or otherwise acknowledged by receivingunit 203. As a result, a state expression may include (as examples)incrementing a counter indicating places visited, other attendees met,songs heard, products viewed, etc., and/or or logging information suchas time stamps associated with various occurrences. In addition, in someembodiments, receiving unit 203 may have the capability to transmitinformation (using any suitable transmission component(s) and/ortechnique(s)), and a state expression may include a transmissionintended for one or more other components (e.g., a mobile device, servercomponent, networking component, etc.). A receiving unit may express anysuitable state, whether perceptible by an attendee or not, in anysuitable manner, as the invention is not limited in this respect.

When multiple receiving units 203 are distributed in an environment, thereceiving units may be used to create a display, and/or otherperceptible expressions of state, during the event. Being part of such adistributed manifestation within an environment during an event mayincrease each attendee's level of engagement with and emotionalattachment to the event, the attraction(s) experienced during the event,and the receiving unit itself. Event organizers, recognizing thisemotional attachment, often allow attendees to keep the receiving unitswhen the event finishes as a souvenir and memento of their experience atthe event.

The transmissions received from transmitting unit 201 during an eventmay take any suitable form. For example, forms of transmission disclosedin the '391 patent include directionally transmitted electromagneticsignals in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectra. Other forms oftransmission may include non-directionally transmitted signals, such asvia radio or other waveforms.

In the arrangement depicted in FIG. 1, receiving unit 203 receivestransmissions at times other than during the event from device(s) 202,which may comprise any suitable component(s). For example, device(s) 202may comprise a mobile device (e.g., operated by an event attendee beforeor after the event), a server component, a networking component, and/orany other suitable device(s).

In some embodiments, receiving unit 203 may receive transmissions attimes other than during an event via a direct connection with device(s)202. For example, in some embodiments, a transmission may be sent andreceived via one or more networks, of which device(s) 202 and receivingunit 203 comprise nodes. A network used to communicate with receivingunit 203 may take any suitable form. For example, a network may enablewired and/or wireless transmissions, may employ pre-existingcommunications infrastructure and/or be ad hoc in nature, and may employany suitable communication technique(s) and/or protocol(s). As such,communications with receiving unit 203 at times other than during anevent may be accomplished using any suitable components andcommunication technologies, including components and technologies whichare now known or later developed.

FIG. 3 depicts a representative process 300 whereby a receiving unit mayexpress a state change in response to a transmissions received during anevent, and at a time other than during an event. At the start of process300, in act 310, a receiving unit (e.g., receiving unit 203 shown inFIG. 1) receives a first transmission from a transmitting unit during anevent (e.g., an electromagnetic signal sent via directionaltransmission). Then, in act 320, the receiving unit expresses a firststate in accordance with information included in the first transmission.For example, the receiving unit may manifest a state change indicated bystate information which correlates with a particular location indicatedin the first transmission, as a result of the receiving unit being atthe indicated location at the time the first transmission was received,as disclosed in the '391 patent.

Representative process 300 then proceeds to act 330, wherein thereceiving unit receives a second transmission at a time other thanduring the event. For example, the second transmission may be receivedbefore or after the event. In some embodiments, the second transmissionmay be received via a direct connection (e.g., via one or more networks)from a component such as a mobile device, server component, networkingcomponent, and/or any other suitable component(s). In act 340, thereceiving unit then expresses a second state in accordance withinformation included in the second transmission. Representative process300 then completes.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing description ofrepresentative process 300 that the acts shown in FIG. 3 need not beperformed in the sequence described above (e.g., the second transmissionmay be received before an event at which the first transmission isreceived), and may be performed in any suitable sequence. It should alsobe appreciated that the first and second states expressed by thereceiving unit need not be different states. For example, the receivingunit may manifest the same form(s) of visual effect during an event andat a time other than during the event, such as to remind an attendeeafter an event of a particular visual effect which he/she witnessedduring the event.

FIG. 4 depicts a representative mode of interaction with a receivingunit. Specifically, FIG. 4 depicts a mode of interaction 401 wherein aserver component 402 communicates via connection 404 with a mobiledevice 403 which is configured to act as a receiving unit at a timeother than during an event. As noted above, a mobile device 403 maycomprise any suitable device, such as a smartphone, tablet device,laptop computer, gaming console, music player, or other device. Servercomponent 402 may cause mobile device 403 to express a state using anysuitable functionality (whether native or non-native to the mobiledevice), such as by causing information to be displayed on the mobiledevice's screen, causing the mobile device to vibrate, causing sound tobe emitted from the mobile device's speaker, and/or any other suitablefunctionality.

The mobile device 403 may be configured to act as a receiving unit inany suitable fashion. For example, in some embodiments configuration maybe accomplished via the installation and execution of one or moreapplications on the mobile device. A server component 402 may compriseany suitable hardware and/or software component(s), and if implementedat least partially via software, need not execute on the same physicalhardware.

In some embodiments, connection 404 may comprise one or more network(s)(not shown in FIG. 4). As noted above, if one or more networks are used,each network may employ any suitable communication protocol(s) and/ortechnique(s), and comprise any suitable communication infrastructure.For example, server component 402 may communicate with mobile device 403via IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, and/or any other suitable protocol(s). Theinvention is not limited to any particular mode of implementation.

Server component 402 may communicate with mobile device 403 configuredto function as a receiving unit at a time other than during an event forany of numerous reasons. For example, server component 402 may beoperated by an entity associated with an event (e.g., the eventorganizer, an artist, team or other attraction associated with an event,etc.) and may communicate with mobile device 403 at a time other thanduring an event to provide notifications (e.g., of upcoming events, anew song, album, tour date or information released by a musical artist,future attractions, etc.), service alerts (e.g., the availability of newapplications or versions for installation on the mobile device, etc.).Any suitable information may be communicated to a mobile device 403configured to function as a receiving unit, as embodiments of theinvention are not limited in this respect.

FIG. 5 depicts another representative mode of interaction 501 at a timeother than during an event. Specifically, FIG. 5 depicts a mode ofinteraction which involves a mobile device 502 communicating viaconnection 504 with a receiving unit 503. In mode of interaction 501,the user may employ an application (not shown in FIG. 5) executing onmobile device 502 to communicate with receiving unit 503. For example, auser of mobile device 502 may employ the application to effect a changeof state by the receiving unit, and/or program the mobile device 502and/or receiving unit 503 to effect a change in state in response to oneor more defined stimuli. As an example, a promoter of an artist'smusical concert may specify that when the mobile device 502 plays aparticular song by the artist, an application executing on the device isto instruct the receiving unit 503 to create a similar visual display toone which was presented by the receiving unit at the concert when thesame song was played, so as to remind or recreate the feelingsexperienced by the concert attendee when the song was played.

It should be appreciated that although one receiving unit 503 is shownin FIG. 5, the invention is not limited to a mobile device 502controlling only a single receiving unit 503. For example, in someembodiments, a mobile device 502 may issue instructions to multiplereceiving units 503 via multiple connections 504. Such instructions maybe similar for all receiving units in communication with mobile unit502, or one set of instructions may be directed to one subset ofreceiving units 503 and another set of instructions may be directed toanother subset.

Further, in some embodiments of the invention, a receiving unit 503 maybe capable of not only receiving information (e.g., instructions) from amobile device, but also transmitting information to the mobile device,such as information indicating the receiving unit's status, locationand/or other characteristics. As such, some embodiments of the inventionmay enable the user of a mobile device to employ an application to querya receiving unit.

Any suitable functionality may be realized via one- or two-waycommunication between a mobile device 502 and one or more receivingunits 503. For example, the user of the mobile device may instruct aparticular receiving unit to change color, instruct multiple receivingunits (e.g., the wearable devices within a certain distance from theuser) to change color, discover the receiving units which are nearby themobile device, determine the distance between the receiving unit(s) andmobile device (e.g., using a received signal strength indication (RSSI)from the receiving unit(s)), or forward notifications received on themobile device to one or more receiving units. For example, the mobiledevice may instruct a receiving unit to change state in response to themobile device receiving a new text message, social network statusupdate, schedule notification, reminder and/or other form ofnotification. Any suitable information, originating from any suitablesource, may spawn instructions to a receiving unit to change state.

FIG. 6 depicts another representative mode of interaction 601 with areceiving unit at a time other than during an event. Specifically, modeof interaction 601 involves a server component 602, mobile device 603and receiving unit 604. This mode of interaction is similar in somerespects to the mode of interaction 501 described above with referenceto FIG. 5, except that communications with the receiving unit (e.g., toinstruct the receiving unit to express a state) originate with servercomponent 602 rather than mobile device 603. As such, the mobile device603 may serve as a conduit or data processing intermediary forcommunication between the server component 602 and receiving unit 604.It should be appreciated that although only one server component 602,mobile device 603 and receiving unit 604 is shown in FIG. 6, mode ofinteraction 601 may involve plural server components 602, mobile devices603 and receiving units 604. For example, a server component 602 maycommunicate with multiple mobile devices 603, and each mobile device maycommunicate with multiple receiving units 604. Such communication may betwo-way, so that server component 602 may send information to, orreceive information from, one or more receiving units 604 via one ormore mobile devices 603.

Any suitable functionality may be achieved via communication betweenserver component 602 and one or more receiving units 604 via one or moremobile devices 603. For example, server component 602 may issue anotification to a mobile device 603 (e.g., mobile devices which executean application that communicates with server component 602) that amusical artist just announced new tour dates in the geographic area inwhich the mobile devices are located. Each mobile device 603 thatreceives the notification may issue instructions to one or morereceiving units 604 to change state, such as to immediately notify theuser of each receiving unit to shop for tickets before the shows sellout.

As another example, a receiving unit 604 may express a state in responseto a mobile device 603 capturing certain information and notifyingserver component 602. For example, an application executing on themobile device may determine that a predefined event has occurred and/orthat predetermined conditions have been satisfied, and send instructionsto the receiving unit to express a state as a result of processingperformed by the application, and/or in response to receivinginstructions from a server component. One representative mode ofimplementation relates to a mobile device application detecting anenvironmental stimulus, such as a reaction by the wearer of a receivingunit to happenings during an event. For example, when the wearer of areceiving unit cheers for their team at a sporting event (e.g., as aresult of a goal being scored), the mobile device application may detect(e.g., through its microphone) the increase in noise and automaticallysend instructions to the receiving unit to express a state (e.g., tolight up, vibrate, etc.) when the noise reaches a threshold level, toaugment the wearer's experience at the event. Further, the mobile devicemay transmit an indication that increased noise was detected to a servercomponent, and the server component may respond with information thatmay be processed (e.g., displayed) by the mobile device, the receivingunit or both. For example, the server component may respond to theindication with statistics about the game, the player that scored thegoal, etc., and these statistics may be displayed by the mobile device,the wearable device, etc.

As another example, a receiving unit may be instructed to express astate as part of a voting exercise. For example, if an artist at aconcert asks audience members to vote on the song that should be playednext, cheers as votes for each song choice may be detected by mobiledevices used by audience members. These mobile devices may then instructreceiving units worn by audience members to express a state, as a resultof processing performed by the mobile devices, one or more external(e.g., server) components to which an indication of the detected noiselevel was transmitted, or both. As an example, if one song is chosenthen the receiving units may be instructed to express a first state(e.g., light up in a first color) and if another song is chosen thereceiving units may be instructed to express a second state (e.g., lightup in a second color). The mobile device(s) may also, or alternatively,express a state as a result of the vote. For example, the mobiledevice(s) may be instructed to display the sound levels detected foreach song choice.

Of course, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited tobeing used by attendees who are physically present at an event. Usingthe example given above of a sporting event to illustrate, the cheersdetected by the mobile device may be those from fans at a bar which theuser is visiting during the game. For example, the mobile device maytransmit an indication of the detected noise, and/or any otherenvironmental condition(s), to a server component via one or morenetworks comprising any suitable infrastructure, and the servercomponent may respond with information to be processed by the mobiledevice, the receiving unit, or both. The invention is not limited tobeing employed in any particular setting.

It should also be appreciated that the invention is not limited tocausing receiving units to express a state as a result of environmentalconditions. Detection of any suitable type of condition and/orsatisfaction of any suitable criteria may cause a receiving unit toexpress a state. As examples, the detection of biometric data,movement-related data, proximity-related data, and/or any other suitabletype(s) of data, by a receiving unit, mobile device and/or othercomponent may trigger an expression of state by a receiving unit.

It should also be appreciated that the reaction to such conditiondetection/criteria satisfaction is not limited to a receiving unitexpressing a state. For example, a condition being detected may triggera capture of information, of any suitable type(s), by any suitablecomponent(s). For example, the detection of certain environmentalconditions, certain biometric data, etc., may cause a receiving unit,mobile device, and/or any other suitable component(s) to start capturinginformation. For example, in response to detecting a certain level ofcrowd noise at a sporting event, a mobile device and/or externalcomponent may start capturing content, such as images, sound and/orvideo, to create a memento of the event for the user. In response todetecting that the wearer of a receiving unit is likely skiing (e.g.,due to surrounding temperature and user acceleration information), amobile device and/or external component(s) may start capturing theuser's speed, acceleration, number of jumps, etc., and a receiving unitmay begin capturing biometric data such as heart rate, caloriesexpended, etc. In response to detecting that a certain person has comeinto close proximity (e.g., as a result of information sent by thatperson's mobile device being detected), a user's mobile device and/orexternal component(s) may begin capturing images, sound, video., etc. tocreate a record of the interaction with the person. Any suitablecondition(s) being detected may cause any suitable type(s) ofinformation to be captured, as the invention is not limited in thisrespect.

FIG. 7 depicts another representative mode of interaction 701 at a timeother than during an event. Specifically, mode of interaction 701involves a server component 702, networking component 703 and receivingunit 704. This mode of interaction is similar in some respects to themode of interaction 601 described above with reference to FIG. 6, exceptthat instead of communications between the server component andreceiving unit flowing through a mobile device, they instead flowthrough networking component 703, which may include (as examples) a hub,router, gateway and/or any other suitable networking component(s)configured to function as a conduit for communications between onenetwork node and another.

In some embodiments, communication via a networking component 703 ratherthan a mobile device may enable different communication protocols to beemployed for communication between server component 702 and receivingunit 704. For example, use of networking component 703 may enablecertain forms of the Internet Protocol (IP) to be used such as IPv6,6loWPAN, etc., which may have (as an example) favorable powerconsumption characteristics when compared with other communicationprotocols.

FIG. 8 depicts a mode of operation 801 in which a receiving unitexpresses a state change automatically, rather than in response tocommunicating with other components like a mobile device, servercomponent and/or networking component. For example, a receiving unituser may have been previously programmed to automatically express astate in response to a stimulus (e.g., to act as a beacon in response toan event occurring, such as certain information being received at thereceiving unit; to modify stored data in response to specified inputbeing received, such as to increment a counter when the receiving unitcomes into proximity with a mobile device and/or other component, whichcounter may later be transmitted by the receiving unit; etc.), and/or inresponse to a predefined period of time passing. Alternatively,receiving unit 802 may be configured to express a state in response touser input (e.g., to act as an autonomous lighting element, such as ablinking bicycle light, or sound maker, such as an emitter of an audiblealarm, in response to user input, such as the receiving unit beingtapped or a button thereon being pressed). A receiving unit 802 may beconfigured to express a state in response to any of numerous forms ofinput and in any of numerous circumstances.

The Assignee has recognized that enabling receiving units to manifeststate changes in response to instructions received from externalcomponents at times other than during an event may create opportunitiesfor mischief during the event itself. For example, mischievous operatorsof external components could attempt to issue instructions to receivingunits which are inconsistent with other instructions issued by eventorganizers, thereby disrupting visual displays or other plannedexpressions of state within an environment. As a result, someembodiments of the invention may provide mechanisms for achievingcontrol over receiving units during an event. For example, someembodiments may enable receiving units to be “locked” so that they areonly responsive to instructions from authorized transmitting unitsduring an event. Other embodiments may block applications executing onexternal devices from communicating with receiving units until a pointin time at which such communication is enabled, which may occur a setamount of time after the event concludes, or may be manually activatedby an operator (e.g., through a server component). Still otherembodiments may require an external component such as a mobile device toobtain authorization (e.g., from a server component operated by an eventorganizer) before the component may communicate with a receiving unit.Still other embodiments may provide for transmitting units in use at anevent to be configured to regain control and lock receiving units frombeing externally controlled if mischief is detected. Any suitabletechnique(s) may be used to maintain and/or regain control over one ormore receiving units during an event.

The Assignee has also recognized that receiving units may serve as avaluable tool for communication with a prospective event attendee priorto an event occurring. For example, a receiving unit may be provided toa prospective event attendee before the event is scheduled to occur, andthe receiving unit may be programmed or otherwise configured (e.g.,using any of the modes of interaction and/or operation described above)to manifest a state so as to communicate with the prospective attendee.For example, a receiving unit may be programmed to create a visualdisplay to remind a prospective attendee that the event is upcoming, orto inform the prospective attendee that an alert or notificationrelating to the event has been issued. Receiving units may bedistributed to prospective event attendees in any suitable fashion. Forexample, a receiving unit may be sent directly to someone who purchasesa ticket for an event online, or may be handed out in public places(e.g., malls, airports, restaurants, public transportation stations andvehicles, parks, etc.) to encourage attendance at the event, raisepublic awareness, increase enthusiasm, and allow fans to recognize otherattendees, thereby fostering a sense of unity among them.

It should be appreciated that references above to interactions with areceiving unit “at times other than during an event” do not precludeinteracting with a receiving unit which is initially used during a firstevent as other events occur. For example, an attendee may attend a firstevent (e.g., a first concert by a musical artist) and take home areceiving unit from the event. The attendee may later watch a secondconcert (e.g., in person, online or on television) by the same or adifferent artist, and the receiving unit may (e.g., in response toreceiving a signal from a server component, mobile device, networkingcomponent, other receiving unit, or a combination thereof) express astate, such as a state which is similar to one which it expressed duringthe first concert. For example, the receiving unit may present visualeffects as the second concert is ongoing which are similar to effectspresented during the first concert. The receiving unit may transmit backto the server component, mobile device, networking component and/orother receiving unit information relating to the second expression ofstate, such as an identifier, data collected by one or more sensors,indications of input received (e.g., to communicate an attendee'saffinity for the state expressed by the receiving unit and/or theoccurrence at the second event that triggered it), and/or any othersuitable information.

Similarly, an attendee may view a replay of an event that she previouslyattended, and the receiving unit may express a state which is similar toa state that it expressed during the original show. For example, thereceiving unit may present visual effects which are the same or similarto effects presented during the original concert. Such visual effectsmay, for example, be controlled by an application executing on theattendee's mobile device (which may, for example, also be used tocontrol the replay of the concert), so that the application may causethe receiving unit to express a state in synchronicity with audiocontent.

FIG. 9 depicts a general purpose computing device, in the form of acomputer 910, which may be used to implement certain aspects of theinvention. For example, computer 910 or components thereof mayconstitute any of the mobile devices, server components and/ornetworking components described above.

In computer 910, components include, but are not limited to, aprocessing unit 920, a system memory 930, and a system bus 921 thatcouples various system components including the system memory to theprocessing unit 920. The system bus 921 may be any of several types ofbus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By wayof example, and not limitation, such architectures include IndustryStandard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus,Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA)local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known asMezzanine bus.

Computer 910 typically includes a variety of computer readable media.Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby computer 910 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatileand nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other one or more media which may be used to store the desiredinformation and may be accessed by computer 910. Communication mediatypically embody computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as acarrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any informationdelivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that hasone or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as toencode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media include wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer readable media.

The system memory 930 includes computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 931and random access memory (RAM) 932. A basic input/output system 933(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer informationbetween elements within computer 910, such as during start-up, istypically stored in ROM 931. RAM 932 typically contains data and/orprogram modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presentlybeing operated on by processing unit 920. By way of example, and notlimitation, FIG. 9 illustrates operating system 934, applicationprograms 935, other program modules 939, and program data 937.

The computer 910 may also include other removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,FIG. 9 illustrates a hard disk drive 941 that reads from or writes tonon-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 951that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk 952,and an optical disk drive 955 that reads from or writes to a removable,nonvolatile optical disk 959 such as a CD ROM or other optical media.Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storagemedia that can be used in the exemplary computing system include, butare not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digitalversatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM,and the like. The hard disk drive 941 is typically connected to thesystem bus 921 through an non-removable memory interface such asinterface 940, and magnetic disk drive 951 and optical disk drive 955are typically connected to the system bus 921 by a removable memoryinterface, such as interface 950.

The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed aboveand illustrated in FIG. 9, provide storage of computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thecomputer 910. In FIG. 9, for example, hard disk drive 941 is illustratedas storing operating system 944, application programs 945, other programmodules 949, and program data 947. Note that these components can eitherbe the same as or different from operating system 934, applicationprograms 935, other program modules 539, and program data 937. Operatingsystem 944, application programs 945, other program modules 949, andprogram data 947 are given different numbers here to illustrate that, ata minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands andinformation into the computer 910 through input devices such as akeyboard 992 and pointing device 991, commonly referred to as a mouse,trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include amicrophone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like.These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit920 through a user input interface 590 that is coupled to the systembus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such asa parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor991 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus921 via an interface, such as a video interface 990. In addition to themonitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices suchas speakers 997 and printer 999, which may be connected through a outputperipheral interface 995.

The computer 910 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer980. The remote computer 980 may be a personal computer, a server, arouter, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, andtypically includes many or all of the elements described above relativeto the computer 910, although only a memory storage device 981 has beenillustrated in FIG. 9. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 9include a local area network (LAN) 971 and a wide area network (WAN)973, but may also include other networks. Such networking environmentsare commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranetsand the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 910 is connectedto the LAN 971 through a network interface or adapter 970. When used ina WAN networking environment, the computer 910 typically includes amodem 972 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN973, such as the Internet. The modem 972, which may be internal orexternal, may be connected to the system bus 921 via the user inputinterface 990, or other appropriate mechanism. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 910, orportions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. Byway of example, and not limitation, FIG. 9 illustrates remoteapplication programs 985 as residing on memory device 981. It will beappreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers may beused.

Embodiments of the invention may be embodied as a computer readablestorage medium (or multiple computer readable media) (e.g., a computermemory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs (CD), optical discs,digital video disks (DVD), magnetic tapes, flash memories, circuitconfigurations in Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other semiconductordevices, or other tangible computer storage medium) encoded with one ormore programs that, when executed on one or more computers or otherprocessors, perform methods that implement the various embodiments ofthe invention discussed above. As is apparent from the foregoingexamples, a computer readable storage medium may retain information fora sufficient time to provide computer-executable instructions in anon-transitory form. Such a computer readable storage medium or mediacan be transportable, such that the program or programs stored thereoncan be loaded onto one or more different computers or other processorsto implement various aspects of the present invention as discussedabove. As used herein, the term “computer-readable storage medium”encompasses only a tangible machine, mechanism or device from which acomputer may read information. Alternatively or additionally, theinvention may be embodied as a computer readable medium other than acomputer-readable storage medium. Examples of computer readable mediawhich are not computer readable storage media include transitory media,like propagating signals.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisinvention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations,modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled inthe art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intendedto be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spiritand scope of the invention. Further, though advantages of the presentinvention are indicated, it should be appreciated that not everyembodiment of the invention will include every described advantage. Someembodiments may not implement any features described as advantageousherein and in some instances. Accordingly, the foregoing description anddrawings are by way of example only.

Various aspects of the present invention may be used alone, incombination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussedin the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore notlimited in its application to the details and arrangement of componentsset forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings.For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in anymanner with aspects described in other embodiments.

The invention may be embodied as a method, of which an example has beendescribed. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered inany suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in whichacts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which mayinclude different acts than those which are described, and/or which mayinvolve performing some acts simultaneously, even though the acts areshown as being performed sequentially in the embodiments specificallydescribed above.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in theclaims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote anypriority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or thetemporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are usedmerely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain namefrom another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinalterm) to distinguish the claim elements.

Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” andvariations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listedthereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising acts of: (A) during an eventat which each of a plurality of users is provided a correspondingwearable receiving unit, causing at least one of the wearable receivingunits to manifest a first state change via transmission, from at leastone first location, of at least one electromagnetic signal to the atleast one wearable receiving unit; and (B) causing the at least onewearable receiving unit to manifest a second state change at a timeother than during the event, via transmission to the at least onewearable receiving unit, from at least one second location which isdifferent than the at least one first location, of at least one signalby a mobile device, in response to a determination that one or morepredetermined criteria relating to an environmental condition detectableby the mobile device have been satisfied.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the first state change is different than the second statechange.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act (B) comprises causingthe at least one wearable receiving units to manifest the second statechange after the event occurs.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the first state change and the second state changecomprises one or more of creating a visual display, creating sound,changing appearance, vibrating, creating a tactile sensation, andcreating an odor.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act (B)comprises causing the at least one wearable receiving unit to manifest athird state change in response to a stimulus other than the at least onesignal.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the act (B) comprises causingthe mobile device to execute programmed instructions whereby the mobiledevice transmits the at least one signal to the at least one wearablereceiving unit.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act (B) comprisescausing the mobile device to transmit at least one signal to more thanone of the plurality of wearable receiving units.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein the act (B) comprises causing the mobile device to executeprogrammed instructions whereby the mobile device performs one or moreof discovering the at least one wearable receiving unit, determining adistance between the mobile device and the at least one wearablereceiving unit, and sending an instruction to the at least one wearablereceiving unit to manifest the second state change in response to themobile device receiving a notification.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the second state change comprises the at least one wearablereceiving unit transmitting at least one signal to the mobile device.10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second state change comprises theat least one wearable receiving unit capturing information.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the determination that the one or morepredetermined criteria have been satisfied is made by at least onecomponent in communication with the mobile device, based at least inpart on information which is captured by the mobile device.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the determination that the one or morepredetermined criteria have been satisfied is made by the mobile device,based at least in part on information which is captured by the mobiledevice.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the event takes place at anevent venue, the at least one first location is within the event venue,and the at least one second location is outside the event venue.
 14. Atleast one computer-readable storage medium having instructions encodedthereon which, when executed in a system comprising at least onecomputer, cause the at least one computer to perform a method comprisingacts of: (A) during an event at which each of a plurality of users isprovided a corresponding wearable receiving unit, causing at least oneof the wearable receiving units to manifest a first state change viatransmission from at least one first location of at least oneelectromagnetic signal to the at least one wearable receiving unit; and(B) causing the at least one wearable receiving unit to manifest asecond state change at a time other than during the event, viatransmission to the at least one wearable receiving unit, from at leastone second location which is different than the at least one firstlocation, of at least one signal by a mobile device in response to adetermination that one or more predetermined criteria relating to anenvironmental condition detectable by the mobile device have beensatisfied.
 15. The at least one computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 14, wherein the first state change is different than the secondstate change.
 16. The at least one computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 14, wherein the act (B) comprises causing the at least onewearable receiving units to manifest the second state change after theevent occurs.
 17. The at least one computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 14, wherein at least one of the first state change and the secondstate change comprises one or more of creating a visual display,creating sound, changing appearance, vibrating, creating a tactilesensation, and creating an odor.
 18. The at least one computer-readablestorage medium of claim 14, wherein the act (B) comprises causing the atleast one wearable receiving unit to manifest a third state change inresponse to a stimulus other than the at least one signal.
 19. The atleast one computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the act(B) comprises causing the mobile device to execute programmedinstructions whereby the mobile device transmits the at least one signalto the at least one wearable receiving unit.
 20. The at least onecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the act (B)comprises causing the mobile device to transmit at least one signal tomore than one of the plurality of wearable receiving units.
 21. The atleast one computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the act(B) comprises causing the mobile device to execute programmedinstructions whereby the mobile device performs one or more ofdiscovering the at least one wearable receiving unit, determining adistance between the mobile device and the at least one wearablereceiving unit, and sending an instruction to the at least one wearablereceiving unit to manifest the second state change in response to themobile device receiving a notification.
 22. The at least onecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the second statechange comprises the at least one wearable receiving unit transmittingat least one signal to the mobile device.
 23. The at least onecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the second statechange comprises the at least one wearable receiving unit capturinginformation.
 24. The at least one computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 14, wherein the determination that the one or more predeterminedcriteria have been satisfied is made by at least one component incommunication with the mobile device, based at least in part oninformation which is captured by the mobile device.
 25. The at least onecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the determinationthat the one or more predetermined criteria have been satisfied is madeby the mobile device, based at least in part on information which iscaptured by the mobile device.
 26. The at least one computer-readablestorage medium of claim 14, wherein the event takes place at an eventvenue, the at least one first location is within the event venue, andthe at least one second location is outside the event venue. 27.Apparatus, comprising: at least one computer-readable storage mediumhaving instructions encoded thereon; and at least one computerprocessor, programmed via the instructions to: during an event at whicheach of a plurality of users is provided a corresponding wearablereceiving unit, cause at least one of the wearable receiving units tomanifest a first state change via transmission from at least one firstlocation of at least one electromagnetic signal to the at least onewearable receiving unit; and cause the at least one wearable receivingunit to manifest a second state change at a time other than during theevent, via transmission to the at least one wearable receiving unit fromat least one second location which is different than the at least onefirst location, of at least one signal by a mobile device in response toa determination that one or more predetermined criteria relating to anenvironmental condition detectable by the mobile device have beensatisfied.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first state changeis different than the second state change.
 29. The apparatus of claim27, wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed to causethe at least one wearable receiving units to manifest the second statechange after the event occurs.
 30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein atleast one of the first state change and the second state changecomprises one or more of creating a visual display, creating sound,changing appearance, vibrating, creating a tactile sensation, andcreating an odor.
 31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at leastone computer processor is programmed to cause the at least one wearablereceiving unit to manifest a third state change in response to astimulus other than the at least one signal.
 32. The apparatus of claim31, wherein the at least one computer processor is programmed to causethe mobile device to execute programmed instructions whereby the mobiledevice transmits the at least one signal to the at least one wearablereceiving unit.
 33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least onecomputer processor is programmed to cause the mobile device to transmitat least one signal to more than one of the plurality of wearablereceiving units.
 34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least onecomputer processor is programmed to cause the mobile device to executeprogrammed instructions whereby the mobile device performs one or moreof discovering the at least one wearable receiving unit, determining adistance between the mobile device and the at least one wearablereceiving unit, and sending an instruction to the at least one wearablereceiving unit to manifest the second state change in response to themobile device receiving a notification.
 35. The apparatus of claim 27,wherein the second state change comprises the at least one wearablereceiving unit transmitting at least one signal to the mobile device.36. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second state change comprisesthe at least one wearable receiving unit capturing information.
 37. Theapparatus of claim 27, wherein the determination that the one or morepredetermined criteria have been satisfied is made by at least onecomponent in communication with the mobile device, based at least inpart on information which is captured by the mobile device.
 38. Theapparatus of claim 37, wherein the determination that the one or morepredetermined criteria have been satisfied is made by the mobile device,based at least in part on information which is captured by the mobiledevice.
 39. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the event takes place atan event venue, the at least one first location is within the eventvenue, and the at least one second location is outside the event venue.